Text

One Month Later

MikuUm... Where am I supposed to pick up the dorm key?

MikuI think I pinned it on the map...

Miku(Oh... It's from Mother.)

Mother

MotherMiku-chan, have you arrived at the dorm?

MotherLet me know when you arrive. Your father and Hiro-kun will be worried, you know.

MikuWorried, huh...

Miku (Miku)Thank you! I'll let you know once I arrive at the dorm and finish unpacking🍀

Miku(My father-in-law and brother-in-law will not be worried about me anyway.)

Miku(Actually, even mother...)

MikuThe move... That's quite far away.

Miku's MotherApparently, the club team that scouted Hiro-kun has their home ground there.

Miku's MotherThis time, we can live in a big detached house, and we've also found a new school for you.

Miku's MotherI heard that the school provides plenty of support for both studies and extracurricular activities...

Miku...

Miku's MotherIt was so sudden, so you must have been surprised.

Miku's MotherBut... we have too many painful memories in this town, right? So I think this is a good opportunity.

Miku's MotherFrom now on, I won't let you suffer anymore, Miku-chan. So feel free to rely on Mama.

Miku's MotherBecause you're also my child, Miku-chan.

Miku(She probably wants to be more like a family, and more like a mother to me.)

Miku(But I'm already...)

Miku(My happiness... I'll just seize it on my own.)

Miku(From today on, I won't be pushed around by "family" anymore. A quiet, peaceful new life begins now.)

MikuHehe...

Miku! Ahem...

MikuUm... Right, pick up the key. The place is...

MikuHuh, underground?

MikuLive house "Roarin' Nest..." It's here, but...

Miku...

Miku*Inhale*... *Exhale*... Okay—

???Hey!! Excuse me!

Miku(That scared me... A woman in a suit... some kind of salesperson...?)

The woman in a suitHello, are you interested in being an idol!?

MikuHuh? Um, who are you?

The woman in a suitOh, sorry! I'm from the idol division of Neuland Music.

The woman in a suitYou have a great face and a great figure. I'm sure you'll make a wonderful idol!

Miku(Sounds suspicious...)

The woman in a suitOh! Are you already signed to an agency!?

MikuWell, no, but...

The woman in a suitOh, good! Then please be our idol—

RaikaArgh~~~~!! You came here again!?

MikuHuh?

RaikaNot you, the one in the suit! Stay away from her! Come over here!

MikuWhoa!? Hey, don't pull me...!

RaikaStay behind me!

Miku(Ugh... What's going on here...!?)

RaikaFirst you tried to take away my "home," and now you're messing with this girl... You demon!!

The woman in a suitDemon...!? I'm just making proposals that would make every one of you happy!

RaikaWhoa~ You're lying! You only think about yourself~!

RaikaBesides, you don't know what makes her happy! Only she knows!

Miku!

RaikaAnd my happiness is living and laughing with my "family" at my "home!" I've already said that before!

The woman in a suitFamily... How many times are you going to say that?

RaikaI'll keep saying that until you understand, Ms. Demon~!

RaikaIf it's for the sake of my family's smiles, I'll become Issun-bōshi or Momotarō! Whatever it takes!!

Miku...

RaikaGot it? Now go home! Here! Demons out~! Fortune in~!

The woman in a suit~~~! Don't think I'll just back down like this!

Raika*Sigh*... Seriously, don't come back again~

MikuHey...

RaikaOh, are you okay!? Did she say anything weird to you!?

MikuYeah, I was asked if I'm interested in being an idol...

MikuBut I didn't know how to refuse her. Thank you very much♪

RaikaAhaha, you're welcome! It's just that I don't like her!

MikuHuh, is that so~ Well then, I'll be going now.

RaikaWait, you came to our live house for something, right?

MikuHuh? Yeah, I came to pick up the dorm key...

RaikaAh~~!! You're Miku-chan! Right!? I was waiting for you~~!

RaikaWe're the same age! Can I call you Miku?

Miku(Whoa, she's overly familiar...!)

RaikaOh! You're carrying a guitar case! It looks quite old, was it a gift from someone?

MikuTh-This is...!

RaikaThis guitar... It's love.

MikuHuh...?

RaikaIt's the same as my "home!" It was raised with care and then passed on to you. Right?

MikuA-Anyway... Are you the manager?

RaikaOh, no, not me! Just come in first!

RaikaFortune in~! I'll carry your luggage, pass it to me!

MikuHuh, um...

Miku(Wh-What's up with this girl...!?)

RaikaOkay, there we go! I'll put your luggage here.

MikuSorry, thank you very much~

RaikaIt's fine, I just wanted to do it!

RaikaHuh...? That's strange. She was right here a moment ago...

MikuI have her number, so I'll give her a call.

RaikaOh, that person never answers the phone. I'll find her.

RaikaAnd I have something to show you~! So please wait here!

Miku*Sigh*...

Miku(Maybe today is an unlucky day...?)

Miku(First I got approached by a suspicious adult, and then I ran into a pushy girl who won't listen to me.)

Miku(I just came here to pick up the key though...)

???Hey there. You're Uma-something-san, right?

MikuUma...? Oh no, I'm Mahashi. Miku Mahashi.

???Oh, yeah, okay. I'm the deputy manager of the dorm and this place. My name is Yori Kanno~ Please call me the deputy manager.

MikuDeputy manager?

YoriYeah. The manager's off traveling abroad right now. That powerful hyperactive old lady really works people hard...

YoriWell, ask Raika for the details. This place and the dorm basically belong to her.

MikuExcuse me, who's this "Raika-san...?"

YoriHuh? The girl who brought you here. What, you two haven't even introduced yourselves?

MikuAhaha... sorry. Then, could I have the dorm key?

YoriAs I said, you should ask Raika for that~

MikuOkay, where is Raika-san now...?

YoriStage.

RaikaMiku~~ Sorry for the wait~~~!

MikuHuh... Guitar...?

RaikaYou two, hurry to the stage too!

ChieriArgh, seriously!! You're just tall and get in the way! Don't block Chieri's path!

YomogiGyaaah! Don't push, don't push me!! I'm gonna get pushed off the wing...!

RaikaYomogi, you're playing from there again today? You should come out~

YomogiPlaying here is already my limit...

ChieriThen keep playing all gloomy over there! Chieri's gonna have all the stage lights!

ChieriTa-da!! Here comes the leader of the Chieri Union, Chieri Umezato!

ChieriA big round of applause is more than welcome!

Miku(Union? Leader? What's that? So childish...)

ChieriHehe, speechless before my overwhelming aura, are you? Well, it happens. That's what they call being intimidated.

RaikaYou're so cool, Cherie~~! That's the spirit! I'm counting on your drumming today too!

ChieriChieri's the only one who can handle this massive instrument! So Chieri'll do it for you!

YomogiUgh~ How can you be positive so easily...!?

RaikaYomogi, you're awesome too! You're standing 2 centimeters closer to the stage than last time!

YomogiTh-That's because Cherie-san keeps pushing me forward...!

YomogiAt first I managed to avoid being in the band, but then Cherie-san betrayed me...

YomogiAnd if Raika-san hadn't said that, I wouldn't be doing this...!

RaikaHuh? What? Yomogi, say it more loudly!

YomogiNo no no, nothing! I didn't say anything~~!!

Miku(I dunno... The air coming from the stage wing is weird.)

Miku(Actually, what's this?)

RaikaAhaha, glad to see you're fine! Well then, Miku, please hear us out for one song.

RaikaThis is my family!

Miku(Whoa...)

Miku(The sound's a total mess. No one's listening to anyone else.)

Miku(Well, that makes sense, considering their conversation just now.)

Miku(But...)

Raika—♪

MikuHuh...